April 06, 2007, 12:35:14 AM »
The Ronald Gagnon Murder
At the time of his death, 27-year old Ronald Gagnon was a member of the newly formed Silent Riders Motorcycle Club. He had previously been a member of the Los Brovos Motorcycle Club, but left the group 2 months earlier due to alleged infighting. His murder occurred just 2-days after he first wore the ?colours? of his new club in public.
Ronald Gagnon was last seen alive by his neighbours at 9:30 p.m. on the Monday, July 30, 1984, when he arrived home to 1942 Alexander Avenue on his motorcycle.
At about 11:30 p.m. Gagnon?s neighbours heard his two dogs barking in the back yard and then heard Gagnon open his back door and yell at them to be quite. Shortly after this a loud bang was heard (described as a backfire).
Gagnon?s body was found laying by his back door the following evening (July 31). He had been hit once in the chest with a blast from a 12-guage shotgun. As Gagnon had not been seen or heard from since the night before, it is believed that he was shot about the time his dogs were barking and the neighbours heard the ?backfire?.
A canvass of the area located several witnesses who had seen three males walking toward the back lane behind Gagnon?s house around 11:40 p.m. Minutes after the loud bang was heard the same three individuals were seen running from the area and getting into a beige or beige over dark brown, late 70?s model, full size, 2-door car, possibly a Ford product. The car was observed to speed off down Pacific Avenue with its headlights off and turn south onto King Edward Street.
The murder remains unsolved to this day, however it is believed to have been connected to his involvement in the Silent Riders Motorcycle Club. In a possibly related incident, Ronald Gagnon?s brother, David, also a member of the Silent Riders, was killed a year later during a fight with a member of the Los Brovos. The charges in that case were stayed by the Crown in 1987.
NOTE: Darwin Sylvester, another former member of the Los Brovos and the founding father of the Silent Riders (and later President of the Spartans Motorcycle Club) disappeared on May 29, 1998, after leaving the group?s clubhouse on Chalmers Avenue. However, other than their affiliation with the Silent Riders, there is no known connection between the murder of Ronald Gagnon and the disappearance of Darwin Sylvester.
If you have any information about this case, please contact Crime Stoppers at 786-TIPS (8477), or e-mail Sgt. Al Bradbury and Det. Jon Lutz of the Cold Case Homicide Unit.
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